Word
banter
Banter is friendly, playful talk and joking between people.
Meanings
Friendly, playful conversation with joking and teasing.
To talk in a friendly, joking way; to exchange playful remarks.
Definition
Banter is light, humorous conversation where people tease each other in a friendly way. It is common among friends, teammates, or coworkers who know each other well. Good banter feels fun and relaxed, not cruel or insulting.
Examples
- There was a lot of banter between the hosts and the guests.
- Their banter made the long drive feel shorter.
- The team’s banter continued even after practice ended.
- She enjoys witty banter, but she doesn’t like mean jokes.
Common mistake
Learners may use banter for truly insulting or hurtful comments, but banter should be friendly and playful.
More nouns
- fascism Fascism is an extreme right-wing political system with a powerful dictator, strong nationalism, and…
- gaslighting Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation that makes someone doubt their own memory, judg…
- narcissist A narcissist is someone who is excessively self-centered and craves admiration while showing little…
- empathy Empathy is the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings.
- metaphor A metaphor is a way of describing something by saying it is something else to create a clear image …